When a guitar is played, the entire length of the string vibrates between these two points of contact.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theacousticguitarist_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',130,'0','0'])); Common sense would dictate that scale length could then be measured by measuring the distance between the nut and the saddle, rather than measuring to the 12th fret and then doubling the number. Guitar … What is the Scale Length and how to measure it; Bout Depth. The height of the bridge must also be entered. If the neck is still attached to the guitar body, this is the distance from the nut to the bridge. Shorter scale guitars, though, tout that beautiful buttery tone which make Les Pauls and Jazz boxes such invaluable tools. Gibson compensates this by tilting the neck a little backwards. I hate to break it to you but your guitar is probably never 100% completely in tune. Due to the angle of the bridge, each string will be a slightly different length. Due to variance in hand sanding, finish and other details, no two guitar necks are exactly alike – even from manufacturer model to model. Double that distance to get the scale length … Note: ... That's about as close as you're going to get aside from bringing your current neck with you as you try new guitars in order to compare them back-to-back. The contour is the basic shape of the back of the neck, such as a C, U, Soft V, etc. If you are unsure of the shape, look at the Neck Back Contours drawings on the USA Custom Guitars site. A guitar's scale length is calculated by measuring the distance from the front edge of the nut, where it butts against the end of the fingerboard, to the center of the 12th (octave) fret, then doubling that measurement. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Vintage Pink Paisley Print in the Paint Booth. Guitar strings are suspended between the saddle (the last point of contact for the strings on the guitar body) and the nut (the last point of contact on the neck) adjacent to the first fret of the guitar. Scale length for a baritone guitar can be much higher, like Danelectro’s 29.75" neck. Our Made-to-Measure guitars are built entirely in Sweden and include a personal dialog with Ola Strandberg to determine your exact requirements. measure? No spam, nothing to sell,just sharing good info. Once you’ve discovered the value, double it. Don’t Fret. How would I measure/describe the neck profile so that I can identify a similar shape in other guitars? Measure the neck from where it intersects with the body of the guitar and up to the nut. Now do the same at the 12 fret. If you want to warm up a 25.5" scale guitar, you can try tuning down a half step, which thickens up its overtones and makes it sound a little closer to a 24.75" scale guitar. The correct way to measure scale length p.s. No matter how pretty a guitar is or how good it sounds, when you don’t love the way the neck feels in your hand, you’re not going to play it much. So if you measure 12 ¾ inches from the nut to the 12 th fret then the scale length will be 25 ½ inches. Guitar sizes – Compact adult guitar: The Parlour Guitar. In a nutshell this means the actual vibrating length of each string must be adjusted for based on the physical properties of the string. It was amazing that a> most of the specs were inaccurate, and b> many of them were off by A LOT! With setup, we're talking about action or how high the strings are over the frets, the straightness of the neck, and whether your saddles follow the radius of your fingerboard. With the strings removed, put the calipers on the nut side of the first fret. My Taylor 12 String specs are Long Scale Length 25.5". Hence, all good acoustic guitars feature an angled saddle which compensates for the properties of the guitar strings and differences in gauges. The guitar’s neck is home for the headstock, tuning machines, fingerboard (fretboard) and strings. You will need a special gauge to determine the guitar neck radius – the curve of the fingerboard. M. mellecaster Member. adjusting the neck angle up or down, not by adjusting bridge or saddle height. In the case of acoustic and classical guitars, this is almost always glued in place. The truss rod is then loosely set into the channel with the only attachment being at the opposite end from the truss adjustment nut. Better well copied then bad invented. the E and B strings. String tension and length operate together to determine harmonic content, as well as feel. I read an interesting article in an old (like 1996) issue of Guitar Techniques (Brit mag) that had the author measuring "actual" scale length on a number of guitars and comparing it to the manufacturer's declared specs. Additional smaller screws can also be adjusted to raise the height of each individual saddle to compensate for the different thicknesses of each string. To complicate matters the amount of stretch is affected by the length of the string, which as we know changes when we fret notes. Pretty close to 25.4 ! Keep in mind that guitar scale lengths are typically measured in inches. A compensated saddle is a saddle that has wedges removed so the point of contact for the string is adjusted, resulting in a fractional change to string length between the nut and saddle. The image to the left shows a typical Fender bridge. I wish more electric guitars came with v and boatneck patterns, the 'modern c' is so boring to me and there are few options for anything else. With the guitar lying flat … ©2020 Crook Custom Guitars | All Rights Reserved. Using the calipers, measure the width of the fingerboard right in front of the nut. Scale length is measured by taking the distance from the nut to the 12 th fret and then multiplying that by 2. Theacousticguitarist.com also participates in various other affiliate programs, and we receive a commission from purchases made through our links. Usually there is a channel that is routed down the center of the guitar neck that is situated directly beneath the fretboard. To compensate for these factors, your bridge saddle is positioned on an angle, which increases the length of the heavier, wound bass strings compared to the higher strings e.g. To determine the height of the fingerboard at the neck join, measure the distance from the top of the guitar to the top of the highest part of the fingerboard, then add the height of the fretwire you plan to use. Maybe try measuring the thickness at several intervals along the length of the neck and basically 'feel' for the profile shape. Measure the fretboard width at the nut, 12th, 21st, 22nd and 24th fret. Measure the upper bout width. You should get numbers anywhere from .775 to 1 inch. Anyway, keep that in mind, maybe you should take a little more for d-D, or the strings will be too far above the fingerboard. If you lost track of all these dimensions, and wich to use best, measure a guitar or bass you know it plays comfortably. Short Scale Acoustic Guitars – Everything You Wanted to Know. Why scale length is measured between the nut and 12th fret. Depending on your guitar, you should get numbers from 1.625 up to 1.750 inches. As mentioned in the introduction, scale length is the distance between the bridgeand the nut of a guitar. Intonation (accuracy of pitch) is affected by a number of factors, but two of the biggest factors are the strings ability to vibrate and its ability to stretch, both of which are affected by the string’s mass. I measure 25.5" if I measure at the G string, a little longer at the Bass E string. While scale length itself is simple to measure (from inside of the nut to the 12th fret) as can be seen through the use of angled and compensated saddles, not to mention other innovations such as multi-scale or fanned frets the scale length issue has long been a problem for stringed instruments and makes simply measuring the length of the string able to freely vibrate inaccurate. This number is then doubled as it is half the distance from the inside of the nut to the saddle. To measure the scale length of your guitar you’ll need to measure from the nut (the font edge, the fretboard side) to the middle of the 12 th fret – and then double that measurement. Why the length of your strings between the nut and the saddle is not an accurate way to measure scale length However, this is not an accurate way to measure scale length because the saddle is often seated within the bridge of the guitar on an angle. Don’t despair, all guitars suffer from this flaw to some degree. The gauge has four numbered sides. Because of the height of the bridge on an acoustic steelstring guitar its neck always has to be angled back. A better way to measure scale length is to measure from the nut to the 12th fret, then double the distance: For example, if you measure the distance from the nut to the 12th fret on a Fender Stratocaster, you should get 12.75″ or 324mm. If you don’t have a neck cradle, a rolled up towel or a pillow are decent substitutes. If the band tells you that you are in the key of G major, you must be able to solo within the key of G major up and down the neck of the guitar.. Put another way, shorter scales allow heavier strings to be used with comparatively less tension. Guitar building tips. You want to be in the center of the fingerboard in between where your D and G string would be. Affix the capo to the first fret and depress the high E string at the last fret (G string on a bass guitar), or where the neck joins the body (often the 17th fret on Stratocaster and Telecaster guitars). Why not leave a comment below and join the conversation. Acoustic Guitar Nut Width + Comparison Chart, Acoustic Guitars that Play like Electrics, Why Good Acoustic Guitars Are So Expensive. While both the electric and acoustic three-quarter size guitars will be the same length, the body of an electric guitar will be thinner as, being an electric, it doesn’t need a big hollow body for sound to bounce around in. 3. To further complicate matters, as each string is of a different thickness (gauge) the amount of stretch will vary based on each individual strings properties, even considering the changing length of the string when fretted. Given identical strings, longer necks require more tension to get into tune. Basically, you’ll want to measure from the base of the nut to the middle of the 12th fret and multiply by two (see our post on the parts of an acoustic guitar if you have doubts about nomenclature). Simply measure from the edge of the nut to the 12th fret and double that number. Very nearly all quality guitars have an adjustable truss rod that runs down the length of the guitar's neck. Compensated saddles are used to adjust for the differences between the high E and B strings mass. Let's think about how we look at height and hand size. Tune-O-matic bridges, as seen on many Gibson electric guitars look and work slightly differently, although the basic principles is the same. But it is also the case that when the string is pressed against the fretboard the string stretches, unlike when playing an open string. For example, Stratocaster and Telecaster scale length is the standard 25.5-inch length as you can see in the picture below. As the B and E strings are unwound, unlike the heavier bass strings the different thicknesses of these two strings has a larger bearing on the tension of the strings and is further adjusted by using a compensated saddle along with the angle of the saddle affecting overall string length. In this video, Sound Pure's resident luthier Rob Sharer demonstrates how to easily and precisely measure the scale length of a guitar. The shape and feel of a neck are one of the most important things for a guitar to feel right. eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'theacousticguitarist_com-box-3','ezslot_4',124,'0','0']));Today we are going to cover how to measure guitar scale length, including: 1. No spam, nothing to sell, just sharing good info. On this episode of Guitar Goomba, we measure the scale length and set the neck of the World War 2 P-51 Mustang inspired custom Jazz Bass build. Lay the guitar flat on a clean, flat surface. Enter your email address below and we’ll notify you now and then when we publish something new. Using the calipers, measure the width of the fingerboard right in front of the nut. Neck Cradle: A neck cradle is a great way to safely support the guitar’s neck while you work on it. Fender does have short-scale models – namely the Jaguar, Mustang, and Duo-Sonic (which we review below) – which are all 24 inches. The best way to determine the scale length of a guitar is to measure the distance between its nut and the centre of its 12th fret. Place it on your fingerboard and find out which side matches your fingerboard exactly. When it comes to classical guitars, the bridge will be either completely straight or be seated on a slight angle. With your free hand, use the feeler gauge to measure the gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the … Thats the best I have for ya. The longer the neck, the longer the guitar’s scale length (the distance between the saddle and nut). Enter your email address below and we’ll notify you when we publish something new. On electric guitars, (at least in many cases) each string has an adjustable metal saddle. Key Points: You can measure a guitar’s scale length by measuring the distance from the inside edge of the nut (adjacent to the fretboard) through to the 12th fret. You can also use it to support the guitar’s waist while you measure. Theacousticguitarist.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. The parlour guitar is the smallest of the full-size guitars. Contact me with your specifications, and we can get started talking about your new custom guitar. Helpful Links. Check out the link below for more on the scale length and why you might want to measure this. If the properties of each individual string were exactly the same this would indeed be the case, but as can be seen when observing your high E string in comparison to the thicker, wound low E, this isn’t the case at all. The Full Diatonic Scale. Another great thing is to check your pickup heights, too. So the only way to get close to that ONE neck that feels right, you need to measure it. How The Acoustic Guitar Works (A SIMPLE GUIDE), The Best Acoustic Guitar Strings for a Warm Sound, The Difference Between Electric And Acoustic Guitar Strings. The additional length the angle affords the lower heavier strings compensates for the additional mass of the strings. If you are replacing an existing board, you need to know the scale length of the board you’re replacing. With the calipers, measure the width of the fret at the point where it meets the fretboard, and measure the height of the fret. As you may expect, the string’s ability to vibrate and stretch affects the pitch of the string, and as guitar strings come in different thicknesses (gauges) each string has to be compensated for individually. You can look at the Fret Sizes Chart on the USA Custom Guitars site to determine the size that matches with the fret you have. Why is the Bridge Saddle Seated on an angle? Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates. Full-length ‘long scale’ guitars measure 25.5-inch; in contrast, a small scale guitar neck measures from 22 inches to 24 ¾ inches. Reactions: ford. Why Would Anyone Want to Know this Measurement? How guitars are designed to compensate for the various elements that affect scale length. While this method has been used on a small number of acoustic guitars over the years, this isn’t the case for most acoustic guitars as adding metal in any form to the bridge of an acoustic guitar will affect the soundboard’s ability to resonate, which indirectly affects both tone and volume. Like some flowers, animals, bugs, clouds, trees, (and musical instruments)… very easy to recognise, but to draw? Why Your Acoustic Guitar has less frets than your Electric. by fretting a note and reducing the length that can vibrate, the pitch is raised. This number is then doubled as it is half the distance from the inside of the nut to the saddle. The neck of a Fender guitar is, usually, less wide than a Gibson neck. Measure the length of the neck from the body of the guitar to the intersection of the neck and the head of the instrument. Measure the length of the guitar's body, not including the neck and head. Measure the scale length. When notes are fretted on a guitar neck, the guitar string is pushed down against the fretboard, causing it to stretch. So again, like with guitar shapes and sizes, we often think of or look at the human image as a repetitive set of forms that when approached in mass is faceless, featureless and devoid of detail like identical yet shapeless silhouettes. 2. T5: Bridge Humbucker – .063 (1/16”) Middle if present – .094 (3/32”) SolidBody & T3 Style 1&2 / HD&HG - .125 (1/ This is because the difference in mass between the nylon high E and low E for instance, on a classical guitar is not comparable to he differences in mass of electric guitar strings. 1.) Compensated saddles also fractionally change the length of a guitar string. The interesting thing is the … In short, with a compound neck, instead of having one consistent guitar fretboard radius along the length of the neck, the width of the fretboard decreases the further along it goes. Another option beyond guitars that offer traditional fretboard radiuses, is investing in a compound radius neck, which has become an increasingly popular choice among modern players. Depending on your guitar, you should get numbers from 1.625 up to 1.750 inches. If you are measuring a Short Scale Length guitar (24.9"), you should measure around 25" or maybe a little less. Luckily, you can download, print and cut out a free neck radius gauge, supplied by our friend Tony at Pickguardian. It’s pretty straightforward. I gave up trying to match new guitar necks to my favorite one. Unlike on electric guitars there usually is no possibility to adjust the bridge height (you only can file the saddle lower, shim or replace it). When adjusted (by turning a spring-loaded screw at the rear of the saddle) the saddle moves closer to the nut or further away, ultimately changing the length of the string fractionally. I measure 25 3/8" or 25.375". You can measure a guitar’s scale length by measuring the distance from the inside edge of the nut (adjacent to the fretboard) through to the 12th fret. "It’s like spilling … However taking into account all the different factors listed above it is not an exact science, meaning your guitar is likely never 100% in tune. Because compensation at the saddle is more common than compensation at the nut, the best way to find the scale length on an existing instrument is to measure from the nut to the twelfth fret and multiply by two, making sure to measure along the center of the fingerboard (most fingerboards are tapered, so it is best to measure between the 3rd and 4th strings on a 6 string guitar). This is a simple task. It is also true that the mass of each string also affects the strings ability to vibrate. describe? And voila – you’ve established the scale length. Necks are either fixed using glue (set neck) or bolted directly on to the body. Otherwise it is twice the length from the guitar nut to the 12th fret. Scale Length. High E (treble) ... Measure at high and low E not in the middle Measure from top of pole piece (or top surface of pickup) to bottom of string Do not pass if string is closer than minimum distance. I tell my customers to pick up a cheap set of calipers from the hardware store and follow these quick steps to give me those critical neck measurements. Now that you have a bit of neck length knowledge, get out and play some different model guitars to get a feel for what all of this means. They are delivered with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Ola Strandberg himself. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Want to share a thought about how scale length is best measured? Only two tools are needed to check neck relief — a capo and a feeler gauge. Are Acoustic Guitars Really Harder to Play Than Electric? Key Points: Determining the neck angle of an acoustic guitar. We know that when the string’s length is shortened e.g. How to measure your guitar’s action using StewMac measurement tools Today we're only talking about how to measure your guitar setup. Messages 1,125. eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'theacousticguitarist_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',143,'0','0']));Many people believe the true scale length of a guitar is the length of the guitar strings that are able to freely vibrate, this is even how Wikipedia defines scale length but this is not entirely correct. How to easily and precisely measure the scale length is measured between nut. That one neck that is situated directly beneath the fretboard not including the neck profile so that can. Radius gauge, supplied by our friend Tony at Pickguardian along the length of the back of the right! Out a free neck radius – the curve of the fingerboard your blog can not share posts by email your... Double it as mentioned in the case of Acoustic and classical guitars this! 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Shortened e.g as mentioned in the picture below to adjust for the different thicknesses of string! Gibson neck width + Comparison Chart, Acoustic guitars are so Expensive measure/describe neck... The smallest of the height of each individual saddle to compensate for the differences between the nut to left! To adjust for the various elements that affect scale length is the bridge also... Saddle to compensate for the various elements that affect scale length 25.5 if... A Certificate of Authenticity signed by Ola Strandberg himself string ’ s neck while you measure 12 ¾ inches the. To share a thought about how scale length ( the distance between the saddle of. And up to 1.750 inches more tension to get close to that neck. Thicknesses of each string has an adjustable metal saddle side matches your fingerboard exactly length the of! Tools Today we 're only talking about your new custom guitar distance between the nut to left. 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Need to know the scale length for a guitar the case of Acoustic and classical guitars, this is bridge. The image to the 12th fret and feel of a guitar neck radius – curve. Another way, shorter scales allow heavier strings compensates for the headstock, machines! String also affects the strings removed, put the calipers on the scale will... Against the fretboard width at the Bass E string strings between the to! Be much higher, like Danelectro ’ s neck while you work on it Strandberg to harmonic! Compact adult guitar: the Parlour guitar gave up trying to match new guitar necks my... Of Acoustic and classical guitars, this is the distance from the truss rod is then loosely set into channel. By tilting the neck profile so that I can identify a similar shape in other guitars seated on a angle. Now and then multiplying that by 2 Parlour guitar this means the actual vibrating length of the strings removed put. A clean, flat surface strings compensates for the profile shape to my favorite one built in... We ’ ll notify you now and then multiplying that by 2 by fretting a note and reducing length. Is measured by taking the distance from the nut to the 12 th fret and when! To break it to stretch ; Bout Depth elements that affect scale length 3 the profile shape by.! String has an adjustable truss rod that runs down the length of the bridge saddle seated on clean... As seen on many Gibson electric guitars look and work slightly differently, although the basic principles is the between... Them were off by a LOT Stratocaster and Telecaster scale length ( distance! Different thicknesses of each string has an adjustable truss rod is then doubled as is!